LAW DAY: Laurie Smith Camp Integrity in Service Award: Deb Gilg

Judge Laurie Smith Camp was an innovator with depths of integrity. She was the first female federal judge in Nebraska, and a strong advocate for women leadership. After her passing in 2020, the Omaha Bar Association dubbed this award in her honor. The Laurie Smith Camp Integrity in Service Award is given to those who “implement outstanding contributions above and beyond the call of duty, related to advancing diversity and inclusion; improvising access to justice; providing pro bono service; mentoring others; advancing innovation in the legal profession; and/or serving and representing the legal community.” This year, Deb Gilg – former US Attorney General for Nebraska– is the recipient of the second annual Laurie Smith Camp Integrity in Service Award. Deb Gilg encompasses each of these facets in her practice and execution of law. She began her career at the UNL School of Law where she was classmates with Smith Camp and cultivated a lasting friendship. Gilg said about her friend, Laurie, “She was an ordinary person who had extraordinary legal abilities. Laurie embodied integrity.”

Gilg found herself a niche servicing Nebraskans. She was a Special Prosecutor and deputy county attorney in 21 counties. Before becoming the Nebraska AG, “Laurie liked to refer to me as a private attorney general for the state.” She served on the Nebraska crime commission and sat as chair for 24 years for the Nebraska Jail Standards Board, which oversees jail inspections and the regulations that go along with it. She was a chair member of the Equal Opportunities Commission which provides legal services relating to unlawful discrimination occurring in the areas of Employment, Housing, and Public Accommodations. Currently, she volunteers her legal help with Lawyers In The City, a group that consults with people and offers free legal advice. 

She has spent countless years in law, and presently teaches the next generation of it. After retiring from the US Attorney’s office, Gilg started teaching trial advocacy at the Nebraska School of Law for four years, and then became a part of the adjunct law faculty at the Sandra Day O’Connor School of Law at Arizona State University. Along with teaching, Gilg is a judge for national mock trial competitions for law schools. Through teaching, Gilg is propelled into a mentorship role: “I mentor a lot of students currently or past students that I have had in trial advocacy. We’ll talk about their career goals, and I just listen to them and help guide them.” 

Not only is Gilg a mentor to her students, she is a strong advocate for female leadership and empowerment. When she left the US Attorney’s office she started an organization called Fearless, Fierce, and Forward. This organization’s emphasis is empowering women professionals through leadership training, negotiation skills training, crisis management, and other personalized training. She hosts workshops and speaks at a national level to women professionals.

“Now that I am in ‘retirement years’ I do those things that bring me joy. That’s what teaching and talking about women leadership does for me.”

Gilg found another passion in advocacy for Native American tribes. She works on this at a national level with a Native American organization that focuses on tribal housing. She speaks on recognizing domestic violence in occupants and how you can help them. “I continue to address that issue whenever I can.” She recently spoke at a conference in Las Vegas, NV with Native American Tribal Housing. She offered advice, resources, and direction. Gilg hopes to start a legal aid program to help the Native American tribes in the state, similarly to what she does nationally, and with groups in Omaha. 

Deb Gilg has spent a lifetime contributing to the legal community in Nebraska. Even in “semi-retirement”, as she said, she continues to contribute to the practice and future of law. She embodies the principles of this award and embodies the vision of this award. She expressed how she is incredibly honored to be receiving this award and remained humble. The Smith Camp award means so much more to her because of her friendship with Smith Camp. “Having this award is like receiving a hug from my friend.”